Page 20 - AHATA_Neat

A16 LOCAL
Monday 17 deceMber 2018

Troubled Teens win Awards with Poems and Art

SAVANETA — “I won, I have a heart for voluntary The Contest
won”, sounded the happy work and they feel like The assessment was for
respond from one of the helping and reaching out each teen to decorate a
teens of the Ortho-peda- to those in need. “On the book and write about their
gogical Center (OC) who island there is a culture of life and experiences. The
gained an award with her judgement and punish- end results were exposed
writing for a contest. The ment. ‘Bad children’ must for the first time at the Aru-
contest is a project orga- be punished is often heard ba Art Fair in San Nicolas
nized by Merveline Geer- in the community. People last October. The exposi-
man and her husband are many times harsh and tion attracted a wide au-
Mike for troubled teens be- I would like to turn this cold dience and many people
tween 12 and 18 years old. into warmth towards these shared their emotions upon
“These children have been children, by showing the the topic. After the Art Fair
through a lot, they are public their background the books were exposited
abused, traumatized and in and story. To bring aware- at several Community Cen-
their adolescent phase as ness that this is not their ters. The public was invited
well. They are judged upon choice.” The couple has to vote for the best writing
and receive a lot of nega- three children of their own and the best decoration.
tivity within community. and Merveline says: “When Merveline: “The decora-
Who would not be troubled I look at my children and tion was the easy part, the
by a past like that? But the the children of the institute writing caused some resis-
only thing they lacked is I see two basic elements tance but in the end it was
love and a safe home.” the latter lack: love and a actually helping them.” The
Saturday evening Geer- home with peace and rest. stories, poems and quotes es. One of the girls tells Aru- ed off from scratch.”
man opened her home to On the island social cohe- are very touching and ba Today about her life: “I
them, to give them love sion fell apart, everybody well-written in many cases. lived in the Dominican Re- To Give a Voice
and attention. is too busy with jobs and There is no change one will public but things went very 700 votes came from the
people do not take care of not be moved by reading bad, I was beaten up many community centers (MFA’s)
Merveline and her hus- each other no more.” the cries from the heart, but times. My mother was here Savaneta, St. Cruz, Parade-
band are caretakers, they also the dreams and wish- in Aruba and she came get ra and Noord. Merveline:
me, the only thing is that “But there were many
she could not give me the more visitors. Not all people
love I needed. A teacher at wanted to vote because
school initiated my process they were overwhelmed
to go live at the OC.” She with the pain of the chil-
feels more in peace now, dren written down. The re-
though in the beginning sponse from the audience
she felt she was imprisoned. was very good, they were
“I see things more positive happy with the attention
now and feel I can make for these children.” Her next
that change. Her dream is project she would like to
to go to Hollywood and be- work with young drug ad-
come famous. “Beyonce dicts. “It is important to give
and Jennifer Lopez are my a voice to those who never
role models, they also start- get to speak out.”q